This has been a busy summer. The weather is in the 90's during the day and 70's at night. It's hard to believe there is so much snow in the States, especially in SC. We are really enjoying living again just a block or two from the Indian Ocean. We were a block away in Beira in the little red house. Now, we're a short distance up the hill from the port and drive along the beach highway every day to go to the Mission Office. The palm trees sway in the breezes and the ocean is fascinating to watch, with lots of little fishing boats and even big freighters and cruise ships coming into the harbor. This is the view from above the beach road. Also, in the second picture, as you drive along the beach road, you can see downtown Maputo in the distance up on a huge hill. It really reminds you of cities set up on the hills along the Mediterranean.
We were so pleased to have Elder Richard G. Scott return to Mozambique for District Conferences and Zone Conferences here in Maputo and also up in Beira. He had dedicated Mozambique for the teaching of the gospel here in Maputo a few years ago. Sister Spendlove had asked Jeanne to make some banana bread for him and the other guests, including Elder F. Michael Watson, first counselor in the Africa Southeast Area presidency, and Sister Watson (whom we knew well from having them for dinner in our home in Beira on our first mission) and Elder and Sister Erekson, the ASE area public affairs missionary couple. Elder Scott rested in our apartment between meetings and even asked for a second piece of banana bread. We spent an enjoyable evening with all of the visitors at a local seafood restaurant, along with all of the district presidency and their wives. Elder Scott is a widower and talked alot about his wife and how she still gives him advice from beyond the veil. He really has a great sense of humor. Of course, all of the members and missionaries were so excited to have a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles here with us. What a delightful man he is. The picture below was taken in "our back yard", behind the Maputo Chapel, where we live on the third floor. You can read the church news article about Elder Scott's visit at the link below...
.http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/60457/Elder-Richard-G-Scott-A-return-visit-to-Mozambique.html
One morning, as we were leaving our apartment at the chapel, we smelled this horrible, acrid smell and saw this smoke billowing up from beyond the parking lot in the back. We leaned over the back wall and saw below us this mother and daughter roasting cashews. We had heard that the nuts had to be burned to get the acidic juice out of them and then cracked open one by one. Such an arduous, time-consuming task. They would later take them out to the streets, where they would sell them. We often buy cashews on the street in little bags. No wonder cashews are so expensisve. By the way, this family lives on this hillside that is about to be washed away, in this corrugated tin house, no bathroom, no running water. Very typical for squatters here. And this is in town!
